ERO New York City arrests previously removed Mexican national, Benkard Barrio Kings gang member

NEW YORK — Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City arrested a 36-year-old Mexican citizen and member of the Benkard Barrio Kings, a local gang involved in narcotics and firearms trafficking, Sept. 20.

ERO New York City’s Newburgh office’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested the noncitizen outside his residence without incident, pursuant to a criminal warrant of arrest for illegal reentry. ERO New York City’s Special Response Team also participated in the arrest due to the Benkard Barrio Kings’ proclivity for firearms and a suspicion the noncitizen was in possession of a firearm. A federal magistrate judge remanded the noncitizen to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.

“ERO New York City will not tolerate gang members peddling poison in our neighborhoods and enriching themselves by extorting and terrorizing New Yorkers,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “We will locate, arrest, detain and remove noncitizens who engage in this illicit behavior. I commend the exceptional work of our officers and our partners for their diligence in apprehending this individual and utmost commitment to keeping our communities safe.”

On an unknown date and unknown location, the noncitizen unlawfully entered the United States without inspection, admission or parole by an immigration official.

On Sept. 4, 2010, the Newburgh City Police Department arrested him for felony first-degree gang assault. ERO Castlepoint lodged a detainer with the Orange County Jail against his release on Sept. 8, 2010.

On May 4, 2011, ERO Castlepoint arrested the noncitizen at the Orange County Jail and served him with a notice to appear charging inadmissibility for being present in the United States without being admitted or paroled or who arrived in the United States at any time or place other than as designated by the attorney general pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

On May 16, 2011, an immigration judge in York, Pennsylvania, granted the noncitizen voluntary departure to Mexico no later than June 15, 2011. On June 10, 2011, ERO in York granted his request for an extension of voluntary departure until June 22, 2011. ERO York subsequently removed the noncitizen to Mexico one week later.

On Feb. 18, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Naco, Arizona, encountered the noncitizen and served him with a notice of intent/decision to reinstate prior order. ERO in Nogales, Arizona, removed the noncitizen on foot to Mexico on March 6.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Naco again encountered the noncitizen March 8 and served him an order of expedited removal. Three days later, ERO in Nogales removed the noncitizen on foot to Mexico.

On an unknown date and location, the noncitizen unlawfully reentered the United States without inspection, admission or parole by an immigration official.

On April 28, ICE’s Law Enforcement Support Center Tip Line received information that this previously removed unlawfully present noncitizen was residing in Newburgh, engaged in felony criminal activity and possibly in possession of a firearm.

ERO uses intelligence driven operations that target public safety threats, such as convicted criminal noncitizens and gang members, who have violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally reenter the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges. ERO officers prioritize enforcement actions in accordance with the Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law issued by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas on Sept. 30, 2021, and reinstituted on June 28 — obtaining and reviewing entire criminal and administrative records and any other investigative information available when taking decisive law enforcement actions.

ERO is a directorate of ICE and is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

Learn more about ERO New York City’s mission to preserve public safety on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ERONewYork.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)